Al fresco plan a go

The Lake City City Council Monday approved a system that could potentially expand outdoor dining in Lake City.

On June 1 restaurants in the state were allowed to provide outdoor table service, provided they met other restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The problem, according City Planning and Community Development Director Megan Smith, is that for several Lake City restaurants there isn’t a lot of space “unless a restaurant is allowed to expand into a parking lot, adjacent lot or a portion of the street,” she told the council.

Under the proposal approved Monday, city officials are able to permit temporary outdoor dining on a case-by-case basis.

Restaurants must submit a proposal, then city staff would meet with them to review the request, suggest changes, and hopefully provide approval within a matter of days, she told the council.

“We know that time is of the essence (due to the short outdoor dining season),” she said, so they “wanted to develop a process that’s really quick.”

To speed things up, the plan allows for direct approval by city staff rather than coming before the council.

Businesses who serve alcohol will have to do so in an area that’s contiguous – or connected – to their property as well as compact, or they must get a catering license.

Compact can mean that the area is fenced off or otherwise defined, City Attorney Sarah Sonsalla told the council.

Council Member Faye Brown asked if patrons will be able to use indoor restrooms.

Smith said the city would be staying out of that issue, but based on guidance from the League of Minnesota Cities, she thinks customers would be permitted inside buildings to use restrooms.

In a Tuesday email Smith said that she had conversations with two restaurant owners about the new policy.

“Both our conversations were cut short for one reason or another so I’m not sure if either are going to submit proposals,” she said. “Hoping we get some interest and action though!”